Prince William
Famous Astronauts
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My Ghost Story
I Survived
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I Survived
On This Day
Discover events that happened On This Day including famous birthdays and notable deaths. Each day we highlight famous people, past and present, who have impacted our world. Browse sections by selecting the links below or click the calendar to view events on another day.
August 7
Events on This Day
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1934
79 years ago
The U.S. Court of Appeals settles the controversy over James Joyce's Ulysses, ruling that the book can be neither confiscated nor banned.
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1974
39 years ago
Philippe Petit makes an illegal tightrope walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, crossing the 1,368-foot-high span eight times in 45 minutes.
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1990
23 years ago
George H.W. Bush orders the military buildup that will become known as Operation Desert Shield in response to Iraqi forces advancing into Kuwait.
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2007
6 years ago
Barry Bonds hits his 756th home run, breaking Hank Aaron's record and becoming baseball's career home-run leader.
August 7
Born on This Day
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Charlize Theron
- In these groups:
- Best Actress Oscar Winners
- Oscar-Winning Portrayals
- Real Life Leading Ladies
Charlize Theron
Animal Rights Activist, Film Actress, Television Actress / 1975 -
Charlize Theron is a South African-born actress, best known for her roles in such films as North Country and Monster, for which she won an Academy Award.
Born: August 7, 1975
Age: 37 years old
Birthplace: Benoni, Gauteng, South Africa
Occupation: Animal Rights Activist, Film Actress, ... -
Jimmy Wales
- In these groups:
- Modern Titans of Tech
- Famous Leos
- Famous People Named Jimmy
Jimmy Wales
Entrepreneur / 1966 -
American entrepreneur Jimmy Wales co-founded Wikipedia, a free Internet-based encyclopedia operating under an open-source management style.
1966 | 46 years old
Entrepreneur -
Mata Hari
- In these groups:
- Famous People Involved in Sex Scandals
- Name Changers
- Famous Leos
Mata Hari
Dancer, Spy / 1876 - 1917
Mata Hari was a professional dancer and mistress who became a spy for France during World War I. Suspected of being a double agent, she was executed in 1917.
1876 | 41 years old
Dancer, Spy -
David Duchovny
- In these groups:
- Celebrities With Advanced Degrees
- Famous Leos
- Famous Animal Rights Activists
David Duchovny
Animal Rights Activist, Film Actor, Television Actor / 1960 -
Actor David Duchovny has played FBI agent Fox Mulder on the television series The X-Files and Hank Moody in HBO’s Californication. He married Téa Leoni in 1997.
Born: August 7, 1960
Age: 52 years old
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Occupation: Animal Rights Activist, Film Actor, ... -
Garrison Keillor
- In these groups:
- Famous Leos
- Famous People Born in 1942
- Famous People Born in Minnesota
Garrison Keillor
Radio Personality, Writer / 1942 -
Humor writer and radio personality Garrison Keillor hosts the program A Prairie Home Companion and tells stories about the fictional town Lake Wobegon.1942 | 70 years old
Radio Personality, Writer -
Ralph Bunche
- In these groups:
- Nobel Peace Prize Winners
- Famous Leos
- Famous People Named Ralph
Ralph Bunche
Diplomat / 1904 - 1971
Ralph Bunche was a U.S. diplomat, a key member of the United Nations for more than two decades, and the winner of the 1950 Nobel Prize for Peace.
1904 | 67 years old
Diplomat
August 7
Died on This Day
-
Peter Jennings
- In these groups:
- Famous Leos
- Famous News Anchors
- Famous People Named Peter
Peter Jennings
News Anchor, Journalist / 1938 - 2005
A respected television journalist, Peter Jennings served as ABC's nightly news anchor from 1983 to 2005.
Died: August 7, 2005
Age: 67 years old
Place: New York, New York , United States
Occupation: News Anchor, Journalist -
Virginia Apgar
- In these groups:
- Famous Academics
- Famous Geminis
- Famous Scholars
Virginia Apgar
Scholar, Doctor / 1909 - 1974
Virginia Apgar was a physician and medical researcher who developed the Apgar Scoring System, which measures newborn well-being.1974 | 65 years old
Scholar, Doctor -
Ira Aldridge
- In these groups:
- African-American Firsts: Film & TV
- Famous Leos
- Famous Actors
Ira Aldridge
Theater Actor / 1807 - 1867
Ira Aldridge was a 19th century African-American actor who became a renowned interpreter of Shakespearean tragedy on the European stage.
1867 | 60 years old
Theater Actor
Email Updates
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Play Nowprofile name: Charlize Theron profile occupation: Animal Rights Activist, Film Actress, ...
profile id: 39135
profile name: Jimmy Wales profile occupation: Entrepreneur
profile id: 9402348
profile name: Mata Hari profile occupation: Dancer, Spy
profile id: 9280167
profile name: David Duchovny profile occupation: Animal Rights Activist, Film Actor, ...
profile id: 9361805
profile name: Garrison Keillor profile occupation: Radio Personality, Writer
profile id: 9231128
profile name: Ralph Bunche profile occupation: Diplomat
profile id: 14821326
profile name: Peter Jennings profile occupation: News Anchor, Journalist
profile id: 9186891
profile name: Virginia Apgar profile occupation: Scholar, Doctor
profile id: 9179881
profile name: Ira Aldridge profile occupation: Theater Actor
profile id: 9358676
profile name: James Joyce profile occupation: Author
profile id: 17184564
profile name: Philippe Petit profile occupation: Artist
profile id: 38066
profile name: George H.W. Bush profile occupation: Diplomat
profile id: 9542459
profile name: Barry Bonds profile occupation: Baseball Player
profile id: 9173497
profile name: Hank Aaron profile occupation: Baseball Player
profile id: 9524786
profile name: George Washington profile occupation: U.S. President
profile id: 9240013
profile name: Jimmy Carter profile occupation: U.S. President
profile id: 9542457
profile name: Ozzy Osbourne profile occupation: Singer
profile id: 38727
profile name: Arthur J. Goldberg profile occupation: Diplomat
profile id: 5444
profile name: Kurtis Blow profile occupation: Minister
profile id: 23182
profile name: Betsey Johnson profile occupation: Fashion Designer
profile id: 39420
profile name: Alex Haley profile occupation: Author
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Upcoming Birthdays
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Arthur J. Goldberg
- In these groups:
- Famous Leos
- Famous Supreme Court Justices
- Famous People Named Arthur
Arthur J. Goldberg
Supreme Court Justice, Diplomat / 1908 - 1990
In the 1960s, Arthur J. Goldberg held many important government posts, serving as secretary of labor, a Supreme Court justice and ambassador to the United Nations.
August 8, 1908
Diplomat -
Kurtis Blow
- In these groups:
- Soul Train Guests
- Famous Leos
- Famous Rappers
Kurtis Blow
Music Producer, Rapper, Minister / 1959 -
In 1979, Kurtis Blow signed a deal with Mercury Records, making him the first rapper signed by a major label. His first album sold more than 400,000 copies.
August 9, 1959
Minister -
Betsey Johnson
- In these groups:
- Hair Dos and Don'ts
- Breast Cancer Survivors
- Famous Leos
Betsey Johnson
Fashion Designer / 1942 -
Fashion designer Betsey Johnson developed her edgy, offbeat style during the new wave/punk era of the late 1970s.
August 10, 1942
Fashion Designer -
Alex Haley
- In these groups:
- Famous Black Writers
- Famous Military Veterans
- Famous Leos
Alex Haley
Journalist, Author / 1921 - 1992
Alex Haley was an American writer whose works of historical fiction and reportage depicted the struggles of African Americans.
August 11, 1921
Author
Famous Leos
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Paul Anka
- In these groups:
- Famous Celebrity Couples
- The Ed Sullivan Show Guests
- Famous Leos
Paul Anka
Film Actor, Television Actor, Songwriter, Guitarist, Pianist, Singer / 1941 -
One of the biggest classic pop performers, Canadian singer-songwriter Paul Anka moved from teen heartthrob to adult artist with a slew of hits.
July 30, 1941
Film Actor, Television Actor, Songwriter, Guitarist, Pianist, Singer -
William Atherton
- In these groups:
- Famous Leos
- Famous Actors
- Famous Film Actors
William Atherton
Film Actor, Theater Actor, Television Actor / 1947 -
William Atherton is an American actor known for playing heavies in films like Ghostbusters and Die Hard.
July 30, 1947
Film Actor, Theater Actor, Television Actor
